The dangers of painkillers

New article from Consumer Reports about the dangers of prescription opioid (narcotic) drugs and acetaminophen (Tylenol).
These narcotics drugs now kill over 17,000 americans per year or 46 people per day! Acetaminophen is now the leading cause of acute liver failure and a common reason for ER visits! A not so well known fact is that although narcotic drugs can work well for acute post surgical pain and other types of acute pain and cancer pain, the research shows that they are not that effective for chronic pain.
So why are these narcotics so commonly prescribed for chronic pain when the side effects are so dangerous?
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/09/the-dangers-of-painkillers/index.htm